The Garcia Family: August 2010

At 14 months, Layla can do so much and is learning how to do things all the time. Like the picture above, eating her first Dairy Queen, soft serve ice-cream. Look at her smile, the laughter, joy, and happiness that she expresses from this first experience. With the help of Mommy and Daddy, all of it was devoured. But it was a phenomenal experience to watch.
On the night of her 14th month birthday, I sneaked in her room to watch her sleep. She looked so peaceful and angelic, but at the same time, you could see her face processing the days events, as her eyes twitched and brows moved with her dreaming mind.
At 14 months Layla is attempting to run or shuffle her feet at a faster pace. She is talking a lot more, including the words - bye-bye, dog, ball, up, MEEEEE (still), and has slipped a "peeez" in at least once, when she was copying us. And identifying with a point of a unfamiliar dog, ball, nose, and even drink. She makes the cutest fish lips and the most amazing thinking look with her fingers to her mouth and her brows crooked in a bit.
She has also started another year at Mrs. Nita's, her fabulous sitter, when Mommy and Daddy are at work. Which means, our summer vacation is over, and school is in. But, we had a blast while it lasted.
You can view some more snaps of our summer below, but to sum it up, we swam at the Y almost everyday. Took naps as the TEXAS heat made the temperature rise, in the afternoon. We played with friends, and cleaned the house, and spent lots of quality time as a family, in our cool house.
At this stage in Layla's life she loves to eat and try new foods. She can devour a handful of summer strawberries and eat to her hearts desire, if Mommy bought two cartons a week. She loves her milk to be ice cold from the fridge, and loves to sip on her parents water with a colored straw, if it available. On many occasions, Layla tries to drink out of a cup, but makes a mess that we all have to clean up. But as Grandpa Nixon would say "Don't cry over spilt milk, it just isn't worth it." She loves to stack the food in our pantry. Her lattes combo was a can of green beans, with the peanut butter jar on top, followed with a package of crackers. And we always seem to hear a crash in a bit from the next item tumbling off. Cooking with Mommy is still a joy. Making dinner and digging in the cupboards is one way to pass the time, until Daddy steps foot in the house. Playing on the floor with the "Tickle Monster" can sure help the day end. As the energy in her body is tickled out with her giggles and chuckles. We have also met the "Wonder Pets" along with the "Backyardigans" on Nick Jr. These are our favorite shows to watch. At least a bit, while we explore and play on the floor of the den. Then when bedtime comes, Layla and I, her Mommy, love to read a couple of books as we prepare for light out and night-night.
So, if you are thinking, "Do they have fun?" your answer is YES, loud and clear. We have so much fun. The joys Layla has brought to our lives is just indescribable. We could not imagine spending our time together as a family any other way, then the way we are and have been the last 14 months. Thank you GOD and family and friends for all of your blessings and prayers. It is so much better than we could have ever imagined.
Enjoy the pictures, and stay tuned. We have no idea what Layla will be doing a month from now.